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Football

Anthony Barr of the Minnesota Vikings hits Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the first quarter of the game on Oct. 15, 2017 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. (Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

We all know, let’s face it. But we’re about to witness the stark proof, week by week as 2017 winds down.

Early in Green Bay’s 23-10 loss at Minnesota on Sunday, Rodgers was slammed into the ground by Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr, a split-second after getting a pass off on a rollout to the right.

Crack.

Rodgers walked off the field, but soon was carted to the Packers’ locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, never to return. On TV he did not seem capable of using or raising his right (throwing) arm when backup quarterback Brett Hundley came over to quickly wish him well.

It didn’t take long for the bad news to spread. Rodgers broke his right collarbone on the hit, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer was first to report. The Packers soon confirmed via Twitter:

“QB Aaron Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone. There’s a chance he could miss the rest of the season.”

The hit was legal, officials ruled. But Rodgers chewed out game officials before leaving the field, probably an indication he believes the hit was high, or late, or excessively carried out.

FOX Sports’ officiating expert Mike Pereira disagreed. He pointed out that a quarterback who leaves the pocket “loses certain protections.”

“I see a big hit,” Pereira said. “And to me this is just part of the tackle. I don’t think (Barr) lifts him or drives him.”

If the league office determines Barr’s hit warrants punishment, the linebacker would find out by Friday.

So what now for the Packers? Head coach Mike McCarthy already had accepted the reality that faces his club by the time he spoke to reporters afterward.

“The loss of Aaron Rodgers to the injury definitely hurts,” McCarthy said. “But as a football team we have to move forward. Aaron is a great player. He’s a huge part of our success and our program, but this is the state of the National Football League. You have to deal with all your injuries.

“As far as the quarterback position, Brett Hundley is my quarterback. Joey Callahan is the backup. That’s the direction we’re going. That is the focus and that’s where we are as a football club.”

What are the chances Rodgers might return?

“That is a great question,” McCarthy said. “I really just had a chance to meet with Aaron briefly before I came in here (to talk to reporters). We talked about what happened on the play, and the particulars of the injury. I don’t have any timelines or anything else. I haven’t even spoken to the medical staff.”

Hundley, in more than three quarters of play in relief of Rodgers, was quite dreadful, even given the circumstances. He completed 18 of 33 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, but threw three interceptions and was sacked four times — for a 39.6 passer rating.

“I’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time now,” said Hundley, Rodgers’ backup for the past three seasons, “Obviously we didn’t get the job done today, but we’ll be better.”

The 24-year-old sounded genuinely upset about Rogers’ injury.

“Aaron is my brother, so it’s hard to see him go down,” Hundley said. “I’m praying for him. I pray for him every game, and I wish nothing but the best for him.”

Green Bay and Minnesota are now tied atop the NFC North, at 4-2. Neither has its first-string quarterback. But the Vikings likely will get theirs back (Sam Bradford, sore knee) long before the Packers get theirs.

SAINTS TAME LIONS

In a game whose two-minute warning did not come until nearly 3¾ hours after opening kickoff, New Orleans scored three defensive touchdowns in beating the visiting Detroit Lions 52-38.

Detroit’s Matt Stafford threw three interceptions, two of which were pick-sixes. And he lost two fumbles. Rough day.

The Saints helped out Detroit, though, by allowing a 74-yard punt-return TD by Jamal Agnew, and with Drew Brees throwing a pair of costly interceptions — his first two of the season, one of which was returned two yards for a TD.

“We did a lot of dumb things,” Saints head coach Sean Payton said, “but fortunately our defence did a lot of good things.”

For a change.

AP ROMPS, JAMEIS HURT

Adrian Peterson announced with convincing evidence he is not done as an NFL running back. In his first game with the Arizona Cardinals, “AP” rushed for 54 yards on the Cards’ first drive and finished with 134 yards and two touchdowns in Arizona’s 38-33 defeat of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The bad news for the Bucs was that third-year QB Jameis Winston left the game early with a shoulder injury — it’s this year’s fad, or something. It was Ryan Fitzpatrick who led an impressive but unsuccessful comeback.

According to various reports, Winston will have an MRI on his throwing shoulder on Monday, after an X-ray Sunday proved negative.

“I’ll be back — soon,” the Tampa Bay Times reported Winston as saying afterward.

HOGAN’S ZEROES

So, how did Kevin Hogan fare in his first pro start for the Cleveland Browns? About as terribly as most people expected.

His statline was even worse than Hundley’s, as one of his three interceptions in an easy 33-17 Houston Texans victory was returned for a touchdown. Hogan also was sacked four times.

“I’m not shaken from this at all,” he said. “For me, it’s about learning — and that’s in my control.

“This is a tough first experience, but definitely something to learn from and grow from. I think there are some positives to take from it.”

Fine, but the struggling rookie Hogan replaced this week — DeShone Kizer — probably would not have fared any worse.

EXTRA POINTS

Chicago blew a two-score lead but surprisingly won in overtime at Baltimore, 27-24. Ravens QB Joe Flacco was downright dreadful again: 24-of-41 for 180 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Bears rookie Mitchell Trubisky had to throw only 16 times, completing eight for 113 yards … The Oakland Raiders — who lost again at home but this time with QB Derek Carr, 17-16 to the Los Angeles Chargers — announced they are donating $1 million to help those affected by the Bay Area fires.